Saturday, 31 January 2015

NEW EBOOK - The Nandi Bear: The Brain-eater of East Africa (Cryptid Casebook Book 10)

Lurking among the forested hills of East Africa is said to be a
bear-like animal of unparalleled power and ferocity. It can kill a man
with a blow of its clawed foot, it feasts on children, sheep and goats,
but most terrifying of all is the fact that it eats only the brains of
its victims. This is the description usually given of the Nandi Bear.
But does the animal really exist?

There are eyewitness reports, footprints and the mangled bodies of
victims to prove the existence of the Nandi Bear, but as yet nobody has
ever caught one, killed one or produced definitive evidence of its
existence. Science refuses to accept that this elusive beast really
exists, but those who live in the forested hills have no doubts. They
walk in fear of the creatures.

In this book cryptid expert Larry Jaffer reviews the evidence for
this mysterious beast and comes to some surprising conclusions.

Cryptids are animals, or plants, which are believed by some people
to exist, but which have not been accepted as real by the wider
scientific community. These cryptids are animals which have been seen,
and sometimes photographed, but for which no definitive evidence has
been found. This series of Cryptid Casebooks explores the world of the
cryptids.

About the Author
Larry Jaffer has long had an interest in the fortean mysteries that
surround us. He grew up in the Surrey when the Surrey Puma hit the
headlines, and went out in search of that elusive beast - without
success. Since then he has researched a myriad of other cryptids,
including Sasquatch, the sea serpent, the Beast of Bodmin and others. He
has also investigated UFO sightings and tracked down numerous ghosts
and poltergeists. He has a voluminous archive of witness interviews,
photos and other data to back up his writings on the subjects of the
unusual, paranormal and downright odd.

Friday, 30 January 2015

Bretwalda Author Andrew May writes about the 1605 Gunpowder Plot on the Mysterious Universe Blog;"The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 is one of the best known events in British
history. Every year on November 5th, the foiling of the plot is
commemorated with fireworks and the burning-in-effigy of Guy Fawkes, the
best known of the conspirators. Ostensibly, their aim was to persuade
the government to take a more tolerant attitude toward Roman Catholics…
by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. But does that make sense? The
actual effect was quite the opposite – a hardening of anti-Catholic
feeling across the country. Before the end of the 17th century, people
had begun to speculate that the Gunpowder Plot was, in fact, a false
flag operation aimed at achieving exactly the result it did achieve."

Thursday, 29 January 2015

A review of Andrew May's book "The Science of Bigfoot" has been published on the FORTEANA blog.

In an earlier post this year, Patterson-Gimlin Film: Fake or Fact?,
I reviewed one of the ebooks in the Cryptid Casebook series from
Bretwalda Books. Most of the titles in this series are written by Larry
Jaffer, and – as the name suggests – consist of specific case studies. A
couple of months ago, however, Bretwalda editor Rupert Matthews asked
me if I would like to write something on “aspects of Bigfoot other than
sightings”. I thought this was a great idea, and The Science of Bigfoot was the result. ...

Wednesday, 28 January 2015

BOOK REVIEW - Leopardkill
A review of the book "Leopadkill" has appeared on the Historical Novel Society website:"This exciting story is set in 1808 during the Napoleonic wars when
Sir John Hall is leading the British campaign in Portugal. However, when
Napoleon advances with his army, the British are forced to retreat over
the mountains to Corunna during the worst winter weather ever
encountered. Sergeant Joshua Lock and Captain John Killen are
inextricably linked because Lock saved Killen’s life when they were
boys. In their pursuit of a traitor through Portugal and into Spain,
they encounter a series of dangers and difficulties. Although Killen is
the weaker man, he is also honourable and courageous. Lock, equally
brave, is not so particular in how he achieves his ends. ..."

Sunday, 25 January 2015

“Mametz Wood” is the centrepiece of three short stories that give us
fascinating glimpses into the life of Gwilym Jones, known in his
hometown as “Gwilym Champion.” Captain of the Rugby team, Miner,
Bare-knuckle boxer, Family man and member, from aged 17, of the 19th
Battalion of the Welsh Regiment who fought so hard at Mametz Wood on the
Somme in 1916.

We see him in old age through the eyes of his young grandson, in
middle age in a warm and funny story about a miners outing and as a
young man caught up in one of the most vicious battles of the Great War,
an experience shared by Siegfried Sassoon; written about by Robert
Graves in “A Dead Boche” and also by David Jones in his epic poem, “In
Parenthesis.”
It is a small part of the story of a far from ordinary man born into
the tumultuous events of the first half of the twentieth century as
recounted by him to his son and observed, as the generations passed each
other, by his grandson, me.
Contents
Introduction
1 - The Cloud Factory
2 - Mametz Wood
3 - A Miners Outing

About the Author
Gareth Jones comes from Glamorgan, South Wales. He has been teaching
combinations of History, Drama and Archaeology for over thirty years.
He remains intensely proud of his Welsh heritage.

Brian starts:
Never let it be said that Conservatives lack ideas. The vigour and
drive that regularly encourages my fellow MPs to push hard-hitting yet
self-evidently beneficial Ten Minute Rule Bills demonstrates that the
Right is alive and kicking in Westminster. Then of course there is the
example of the sheer two-brainery of colleagues such as Steve Baker and
John Redwood. Forget the Labour Opposition’s wind power; being in the
Commons can be a daunting prospect, observing on nearby benches such
intellectual power plants in full flow.

Wednesday, 21 January 2015

For many Bigfoot enthusiasts, science has becomes synonymous with
knee-jerk debunking. But to ignore science altogether is to throw the
baby out with the bathwater. If Bigfoot is a real flesh-and-blood
creature, and not some kind of paranormal apparition, there is
ultimately no alternative to approaching the subject in a scientific
way. The aim of this ebook is to explain what that means in simple
everyday terms. From anatomy and adaptation, through ecology and
evolution, to DNA analysis and the laws of physics – here in one small
package is everything you need to know about the science of Bigfoot!

About the Author
Andrew May is a former professional scientist with an MA from
Trinity College Cambridge and a PhD in Astrophysics from Manchester
University. He now works as a freelance writer and consultant, based in
the South-West of England. He is fascinated by weird, offbeat and
paranormal subjects, and has written numerous articles for Fortean
Times, UFO Matrix, Edge Science and other magazines. He has also had a
peer-reviewed scientific paper published in the Journal of
Cryptozoology.

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

PRESS RELEASE - “The Battle of Brighton 1377” New Sussex Book Released Today

A gripping
new book about the Battle of Brighton, fought as part of the Hundred Years War
in 1377, written by historian Leonard James, has been released today by
Bretwalda Books as a printed book and ebook.

The Battle of Northampton, fought in 1460,
was the key battle in the early stages of the Wars of the Roses.

In 1377 a powerful French fleet landed an
army on the beach at Brighton - then a small fishing village known as
Brighthelmstone. The village went up in flames and the French stormed inland to
loot, plunder, murder and rape. The local militia mustered at Lewes under local
knights and set out to attack the French and exact revenge. The climatic battle
was fought just to the east of the modern town centre, with part of the
battlefield on the open downs near Rottingdean which have changed little since
1377 allowing the course of the fighting to be traced on the ground.

This book brings an exciting new look to
the Hundred Years Wars. The course of the campaign is given, but the emphasis
is on the Battle of Brighton and the men who fought there. There are detailed
analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies, tactical diagrams explain how the
troops formed up and moved, and a study of the commanders. The course of the
battle is followed with the aid of maps, relating to the ground today. The
aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war
are then described.

Author Leonard James says “I was delighted
to write this book as I have long had an interest in the of the Hundred Years
War, and like many people remember Brighton fondly from family day trips when I
was a kid. By walking the battlefield (the precise site of which I think I have
now identified) I was able to gain a unique insight into the course of the
action, while handling replica weapons and armour has allowed me to gain new
respect for the men who fought here.”

About the Author

Leonard James is an author of military
books. He comes from a military family that has fought in every major war since
at least the Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly
cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a particular
study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them to get an eye for
ground. He has also handled genuine and replica weapons to better understand
the use of pre-modern weapons and the men who wielded them.

Sunday, 18 January 2015

A gripping
new book about the Battle of Bannockburn, written by historian Leonard James,
has been released today by Bretwalda Books as a printed book and ebook.

A book about the historic Battle of
Bannockburn, the great triumph by Robert Bruce of Edward II of England that won
independence for Scotland. The book is being released to mark the 700th
anniversary of the battle and to coincide with the Scottish referendum on
independence.

With most of Scotland in his hands, Robert
Bruce looked set to become undisputed King of Scotland - only the castle at
Stirling still held out. But then King Edward II of England came north with
perhaps the largest army ever fielded in Scotland by the English. Proud Edward
and his army advanced like some unstoppable monster, destroying everything in
their path. But Robert Bruce was waiting for them at Bannockburn. The resulting
battle would change history.

This book brings an exciting new look to
the Wars of Scottish Independence. The course of the campaign is given, but the
emphasis is on the Battle itself and the men who fought there. There are
detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies, tactical diagrams explain
how the troops formed up and moved, and a study of the commanders. The course
of the battle is followed with the aid of maps, relating to the ground today.
The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the
war are then described.

Author Leonard James says “I was delighted
to write this book as I have long had an interest in medieval warfare. By
walking the battlefield I was able to gain a unique insight into the course of
the action, while handling replica weapons and armour has allowed me to gain
new respect for the men who fought here.”

About the Author

Leonard James is an author of military
books. He comes from a military family that has fought in every major war since
at least the Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly
cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a particular
study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them to get an eye for
ground. He has also handled genuine and replica weapons to better understand
the use of pre-modern weapons and the men who wielded them.

A gripping
new book about the Battle of Towton, written by historian Leonard James, has
been released today by Bretwalda Books as a printed book and ebook.

The Battle of Towton, fought in 1461, was
the largest battle ever fought in Britain and a key turning point in the Wars
of the Roses.

The murderous Wars of the Roses had already
seen dukes, earls, lords and thousands of commoners butchered as two branches
of the royal family struggled to gain firm control of the crown. The struggle
came to a head at Towton, Yorkshire, where Edward Duke of York with 30,000 men
faced Henry Duke of Somerset with 35,000. The battle that followed proved to be
especially vicious as scores were settled and blood flowed like rivers. The
result determined England’s history for a generation.

This book brings an exciting new look to
the Wars of the Roses. The course of the campaign is given, but the emphasis is
on the Battle itself and the men who fought there. There are detailed analyses
of weapons, tactics and strategies, tactical diagrams explain how the troops
formed up and moved, and a study of the commanders. The course of the battle is
followed with the aid of maps, relating to the ground today. The aftermath of
the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then
described.

Author Leonad James says “I was delighted
to write this book as I have long had an interest in the Wars of the Roses, and
know Yorkshire well. By walking the battlefieldI was able to gain a unique insight into the course of the action, while
handling replica weapons and armour has allowed me to gain new respect for the
men who fought here in Yorkshire.”

About the Author

Leonard James is an author of military
books. He comes from a military family that has fought in every major war since
at least the Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly
cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a particular
study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them to get an eye for
ground. He has also handled genuine and replica weapons to better understand
the use of pre-modern weapons and the men who wielded them.

Saturday, 17 January 2015

Henry VIII was a self-centered, psychopath, without conscious or
remorse, who did exactly the right thing at the right time for the wrong
reasons?
This book by a leading politician looks at the series of political
killings carried out by arguably Britain’s most ruthless and
blood-soaked monarch: Henry VIII.
By studying the reasons for the judicial murders of figures such as
Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell and a host of other victims,
this book seeks to show why it was the Henry indulged in show trials and
summary executions in a way that neither his predecessor nor successors
did.
Was Henry VIII just a run of the mill ruthless tyrant who disposed
of anyone who opposed him, or was there more to it? Was he a psychopath?
This book looks at the evidence that he had a psychopathic personality
from the outset but which became more marked with his advancing years
and ill health. Did Henry’s VIII serious jousting accident in 1536 cause
brain damage that lowered his inhibitions and give full reign to an
increasingly paranoid and psychopathic personality?
Henry’s break with Rome was in the author’s view inevitable and
beneficial, but examines to what extent was his penchant for killing was
the result of purely realpolitik considerations or because of his
psychopathic personality and declining heath?
This book traces Henry’s career as a killer, explaining what drove
him to resort to such actions and whether England became a better or
worse place for having had a serial killer as monarch.

About the Author
Gerard Batten is a Member of the European Parliament for London for
the UK Independence Party. He was first elected in 2004, re-elected in
2009, and elected for a third term in May 2014.
He was a founder member of the UK Independence Party in 1993, and
has served as a Party spokesman on Defence and Security, Immigration,
and Home Affairs.
He has written articles and booklets on a wide range of political
subjects and has two other books published by Bretwalda Press:
Inglorious Revolution (2013), and The Road to Freedom (2014)
Inglorious Revolution was co-authored with Pavel Stroilov and charts
how the English Constitution was subverted by Britain’s membership of
the European Union.
The Road to Freedom lays out the case for Britain’s unconditional and unilateral withdrawal from the European Union.
This, his latest book, is his first foray into a purely historical
subject and was written as light relief from the world of politics (or
so he thought at the time of starting it).

Friday, 16 January 2015

NEW BOOK - Conspiracy History: A History of the World for Conspiracy Theorists

Preface by Nick Redfern

JFK, the Bilderberg Group and the New World Order – conspiracy
theories abound on today’s internet, but they are nothing new. Taking a
long-term view reveals century after century of covert conspiracies,
murder plots and political intrigues. The history of the world is
riddled with hidden agendas, scheming politicians and secretive
organisations.

Did the U.S. government fake the 9/11 terror attacks? Was the
British establishment behind the death of Diana, Princess of Wales?
Conspiracy theories like these may be a modern phenomenon, but the basic
idea – that world events are controlled by cynically duplicitous
schemers – is as old as history. When the heir to the English throne
died in 1120, they said it was an accident – but it was an accident from
which certain people benefited a great deal. When the Nazis invaded
Poland in 1939, it was in response to blatant Polish aggression... which
just happened to be the work of Nazi soldiers dressed in Polish
uniforms. As Niccolò Machiavelli said 500 years ago, “the end justifies
the means”. History is often dismissed as a dull subject, but it leaps
into all-too-contemporary life when seen through the eyes of a
Conspiracy Theorist! This fast-paced account tells you everything you
need to know about the convenient accidents, false flag operations and
hidden agendas that have shaped the course of history.

CONTENTS

Preface by Nick Redfern

Chapter 1: A brief introduction to conspiracy theories

Chapter 2: False flag incidents

Chapter 3: They acted alone - or did they?

Chapter 4: Hidden agendas

Chapter 5: Convenient deaths

Chapter 6: Secret identities

Chapter 7: The Illuminati and others

Chapter 8: Rewriting history

Chapter 9: Chronology of Conspiracy

About the Author
Andrew May is a former defence scientist with an MA from Cambridge
University and a PhD from Manchester University. His thirty year career
spanned academia, the civil service and the defence industry. He has
worked on advanced technology research in Farnborough, strategic
planning in Whitehall and operational analysis for a large defence
company. He is now based in the South-West of England where he works as a
freelance writer and consultant.

Thursday, 15 January 2015

NEW EBOOK - Alexander's Macedonians: Weapons, Tactics and Strategy (Warriors of the World Book 3)

Alexander the Great conquered the known world in a whirlwind of military
campaigning that lasted just 13 years. Alexander’s genius helped, but
he would have got nowhere if it had not been for his formidable army
with its immaculate training, revolutionary tactics and novel weapons.
This book takes an exciting new look at warfare during the time of
Alexander the Great and his successors. It explains tactics and
strategy, looks at weapons and training. The illustrations show the
equipment, the text explains how it was used. This book explains the
background to the battles and victories of Alexander, showing how those
victories were won.
The “Warriors of the Word” series is a continuing series of ebooks
looking at fighting men from across the centuries, from the ancient
world to the present day.

About the Author
Leonard James is an author of military books. He comes from a
military family that has fought in every major war since at least the
Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly
cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a
particular study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them
to get an eye for ground. He has also handled genuine and replica
weapons to better understand the use of pre-modern weapons and the men
who wielded them.

Monday, 12 January 2015

The gigantic upright ape known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch is not usually
associated with Indiana with its spreading farm fields and large towns,
but there have been a surprisingly large number of sightings in that
prairie state.

Take this example, among many others:
In August 2007 a farmer was sitting on his porch when he heard
noises coming from his apple orchard. He went to investigate and found
himself face to face with a Bigfoot at a range of just 30 feet. The
Bigfoot was about 7 feet tall, covered in black fur and had a head
sitting on its broad shoulders with not much sign of a neck. The legs
were thick and the arms muscular. It looked as if it had been
interrupted while reaching up into a tree - presumably to pick apples.
The Bigfoot gave a growl and ran forwards toward the man for two or
three strides. Then it stopped again before turning and fleeing.

In this book cryptid expert Larry Jaffer reviews the evidence for
this mysterious beast and comes to some surprising conclusions.

He also looks at the highly controversial cases that link Bigfoot to
UFOs. These joint sightings are routinely ignored, denounced or argued
over by Bigfoot researchers who seek to prove that the Bigfoot is a real
flesh and blood animal just like a bear or a cougar. While Larry Jaffer
also holds this view, he believes the problem cannot be ignored and
uses the results of his own investigations into a number of UFO
sightings to come up with what he believes is a credible solution to the
controversial problem.

Cryptids are animals, or plants, which are believed by some people
to exist, but which have not been accepted as real by the wider
scientific community. These cryptids are animals which have been seen,
and sometimes photographed, but for which no definitive evidence has
been given. This series of Cryptid Casebooks explores the world of the
cryptids.

About the Author
Larry Jaffer has long had an interest in the fortean mysteries that
surround us. He grew up ion the Surrey when the Surrey Puma hit the
headlines, and went out in search of that elusive beast - without
success. Since then he has researched a myriad of other cryptids,
including Sasquatch, the sea serpent, the Beast of Bodmin and others. He
has also investigated UFO sightings and tracked down numerous ghosts
and poltergeists. He has a voluminous archive of witness interviews,
photos and other data to back up his writings on the subjects of the
unusual, paranormal and downright odd.

In 1984 a Dutch scientist walking through forests in Sri Lanka saw a
pair of short human-like creatures covered all over in dense fur - the
Nittaewo. But does the animal really exist?

Since at least 300bc visitors to Sri Lanka have been reporting
sightings of an “ape-man”, a creature that looks like an ape but which
walks upright like a human. The descriptions of the beast have been
consistent - 4 feet tall, muscular shoulders, body hair and a human
voice. But scientists have dismissed the creature as a fantasy based on
folklore and myth. A lack of hard evidence undermined the case for the
Nittaewo. Then in 2004 startling new evidence came to light and the case
for the Ape-Man of Sri Lanka has had to be seriously reviewed.

In this book cryptid expert Larry Jaffer reviews the evidence for
this mysterious beast and comes to some surprising conclusions.

Cryptids are animals, or plants, which are believed by some people
to exist, but which have not been accepted as real by the wider
scientific community. These cryptids are animals which have been seen,
and sometimes photographed, but for which no definitive evidence has
beenfound. This series of Cryptid Casebooks explores the world of the
cryptids.

About the Author
Larry Jaffer has long had an interest in the fortean mysteries that
surround us. He grew up in the Surrey when the Surrey Puma hit the
headlines, and went out in search of that elusive beast - without
success. Since then he has researched a myriad of other cryptids,
including Sasquatch, the sea serpent, the Beast of Bodmin and others. He
has also investigated UFO sightings and tracked down numerous ghosts
and poltergeists. He has a voluminous archive of witness interviews,
photos and other data to back up his writings on the subjects of the
unusual, paranormal and downright odd.

Sunday, 11 January 2015

The Past, as they say, is Another Country. Now there is a guide book to
North America as it was during Revolutionary Times. Written by Dr Lee
Rotherham this book tells the modern reader everything they would need
to know when visiting North America 250 years ago.
Written as if it were a guide book to be used by a visiting
European, and illustrated, this book is the essential guidebook to
Revolutionary America.
Satisfied user Charles James Fox says “A gentleman is taught never
to run. He might make an exception when pursued by a band of Cree
warriors after his scalp. And why should you be wary of accepting an
invitation to a tea party in Boston, why might you want to find some
fur; why are the rebel colonies rebelling; why should you watch your
watch when you meet George Washington, and just what is the correct
etiquette for using a dessert spoon in a log cabin? The essential
visitor’s guide.”
So this handbook is part survival guide, part tome to assist in
cultural acclimatisation, part aide-memoire to help manage expectations
in what remains a frontier land.
The book contains added War of 1812 bicentenary flavouring and is
being launched to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the writing of
“The Star Spangled Banner”.

About the Author
Dr Lee Rotherham is an historian with two postgraduate degrees on
Québec. His survival skills were honed by idly wandering around Montréal
during its worst winter on record. An army reservist, it’s thus
appropriate that from his dealings with the Canadian Armed Forces he is a
Member of the Order of Good Cheer/L’Ordre du Bon Temps. This is a Nova
Scotia fraternity, originally set up by Samuel de Champlain, which
commemorates the terrible winters of the first colonists and the social
environment that got them through it. With beer, his accent betrays an
alarming French Canadian twang.

Saturday, 10 January 2015

The sweeping victory of the Welsh at Cardigan (Crug Mawr) was historic.
It not only put the victor, Owain Gwynedd in a position to rule Wales
free of English domination, it also marked the arrival on the
battlefields of Europe of a new, deadly and uniquely Welsh weapon. The
longbow had arrived.

A Welsh revolt against Norman rule had
begun in south Wales, where on 1 January 1136 the Welsh won a victory
over the local Norman forces at the Battle of Llwchwr between Loughor
and Swansea. This led to an invasion by the forces of Gwynedd, led by
Owain Gwynedd and Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd, sons of the king of Gwynedd,
Gruffydd ap Cynan. They captured a number of castles in northern
Ceredigion and made an alliance with Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth. The
combined forces headed for Cardigan. There they met the combined forces
of all the Normans in South Wales.

Fought just east of the town
of Ceredigion (Cardigan) on the slopes of the Crug Mawr hill this
battle was hard fought and decisive.

This book explains the background to the battle, looks at the forces involved and follows the course of the fighting.

Friday, 9 January 2015

A book about the historic Battle of Bannockburn, the great triumph by
Robert Bruce of Edward II of England that won independence for Scotland.
The book is being released to mark the 700th anniversary of the battle
and to coincide with the Scottish referendum on independence.
With most of Scotland in his hands, Robert Bruce looked set to
become undisputed King of Scotland - only the castle at Stirling still
held out. But then King Edward II of England came north with perhaps the
largest army ever fielded in Scotland by the English. Proud Edward and
his army advanced like some unstoppable monster, destroying everything
in their path. But Robert Bruce was waiting for them at Bannockburn. The
resulting battle would change history.
This book brings an exciting new look to the Wars of Scottish
Independence. The course of the campaign is given, but the emphasis is
on the Battle itself and the men who fought there. There are detailed
analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies, tactical diagrams explain
how the troops formed up and moved, and a study of the commanders. The
course of the battle is followed with the aid of maps, relating to the
ground today. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to
the progress of the war are then described.
The “Bretwalda Battles” series has been running with increasing success as printed books and as ebooks for five years.

Contents
Chapter 1 The Scottish Wars of Independence
Chapter 2 Leaders at Bannockburn
Chapter 3 Men, Weapons and Tactics
Chapter 4 The Battle of Bannockburn First Day
Chapter 5 The Battle of Bannockburn Second Day
Chapter 6 Aftermath

About the Author
Leonard James is an author of military books. He comes from a
military family that has fought in every major war since at least the
Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly
cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a
particular study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them
to get an eye for ground. He has also handled genuine and replica
weapons to better understand the use of pre-modern weapons and the men
who wielded them.

Tuesday, 6 January 2015

In 1984 a Dutch scientist walking through forests in Sri Lanka saw a
pair of short human-like creatures covered all over in dense fur - the
Nittaewo. But does the animal really exist?

Since at least 300bc visitors to Sri Lanka have been reporting
sightings of an “ape-man”, a creature that looks like an ape but which
walks upright like a human. The descriptions of the beast have been
consistent - 4 feet tall, muscular shoulders, body hair and a human
voice. But scientists have dismissed the creature as a fantasy based on
folklore and myth. A lack of hard evidence undermined the case for the
Nittaewo. Then in 2004 startling new evidence came to light and the case
for the Ape-Man of Sri Lanka has had to be seriously reviewed.

In this book cryptid expert Larry Jaffer reviews the evidence for
this mysterious beast and comes to some surprising conclusions.

Cryptids are animals, or plants, which are believed by some people
to exist, but which have not been accepted as real by the wider
scientific community. These cryptids are animals which have been seen,
and sometimes photographed, but for which no definitive evidence has
beenfound. This series of Cryptid Casebooks explores the world of the
cryptids.

About the Author
Larry Jaffer has long had an interest in the fortean mysteries that
surround us. He grew up in the Surrey when the Surrey Puma hit the
headlines, and went out in search of that elusive beast - without
success. Since then he has researched a myriad of other cryptids,
including Sasquatch, the sea serpent, the Beast of Bodmin and others. He
has also investigated UFO sightings and tracked down numerous ghosts
and poltergeists. He has a voluminous archive of witness interviews,
photos and other data to back up his writings on the subjects of the
unusual, paranormal and downright odd.

Sunday, 4 January 2015

The Spanish Army was the first to stop Napoleon’s veterans in open
battle - crushing a French army at the Battle of Bailen in July 1808 and
forcing the survivors to surrender. Despite this the Spanish Army has
had something of a poor reputation among English-speaking historians,
due in part to the reluctance of some Spanish generals to co-operate
with Wellington’s army in the Peninsula. This ebook explains why this
reputation was partly deserved, but mostly not.

This book takes an exciting new look at the Spanish Army between
1807 and 1814. It explains tactics and strategy, looks at weapons and
training. Biographies of the leading commanders are included. There is a
chapter on the Guerrillas. The illustrations show the equipment, the
text explains how it was used.

The “Warriors of the Word” series is a continuing series of ebooks
looking at fighting men from across the centuries, from the ancient
world to the present day.

About the Author
Leonard James is an author of military books. He comes from a
military family that has fought in every major war since at least the
Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly
cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a
particular study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them
to get an eye for ground. He has also handled genuine and replica
weapons to better understand the use of pre-modern weapons and the men
who wielded them.

Friday, 2 January 2015

The Somerset town of Yeovil is today a busy bustling and prosperous
place. Back in 1642 it was smaller, but was still prosperous enough to
attract the attentions of both Roundhead and Cavalier armies eager to
raise money and men for their sides. It became a focus for a battle
fought as part of the English Civil War between Royalist Cavaliers loyal
to King Charles I and Parliamentarian Roundheads.
The battle fought here was one of the very first clashes of the
English Civil War, taking place just days after King Charles raised the
Royal Standard and summoned all loyal Englishmen to his army. Both sides
fielded forces that were relatively untrained and very inexperienced,
but they were keen to get to grips with the enemy, so the battle was
fought with a ferocity not seen in England for a century and a half.
This book brings an exciting new look to the English Civil War. The
course of the campaign is given, but the emphasis is on the Battle
itself and the men who fought there. There are analyses of weapons,
tactics and strategies, and a study of the commanders. The course of the
battle is followed with explanation of how it relates to the ground
today. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the
progress of the war are then described.
The “Bretwalda Battles” series has been running with increasing success as printed books and as ebooks for five years.

About the Author
Leonard James is an author of military books. He comes from a
military family that has fought in every major war since at least the
Crimean War, and probably before that. His forebears were mostly
cavalrymen, though his father served in the RAF. Leonard has made a
particular study of battlefields in Britain, walking over dozens of them
to get an eye for ground. He has also handled genuine and replica
weapons to better understand the use of pre-modern weapons and the men
who wielded them.